Comprehensive Guide to Funding Your Charity

Needing Funding for Your Charity?

It's always been challenging to find funding sources for a charity or not-for-profit organisation. Whether you are needing cash donations or physical items, we look at possible sources of funding available within New Zealand. 

Charitable Funding Options in NZ

When sourcing funding for your charity or not-for-profit, you have options from both specific funding organisations, as well as individual businesses and individuals.It is important to note that most of these options will only give to specific charities or needs. This makes it important that you first identify exactly what you need the funding for, and research who is most likely to give it to you. 

In New Zealand, some options for charitable or not-for-profit funding include:

• Lottery Grants Board - grants are given to mainly community orientated causes
• Gaming Machines - grants are given to community groups aimed at building stronger communities
• Local Councils - directly approach your local council to learn about their funding options
• Lion Foundation - for things which will benefit the local community
• Working Together More Fund - supports organisations which merge or collaborate together for communities
• The Trusts Community Foundation - providing a benefit to the community
• The Southern Trust - grants for those providing benefit to the community
• Pub Charity - specific local areas for things which will benefit that local community
• Rata Foundation - for cultural, social, environmental and community project funding
• Transpower Community Care Fund - for those charities within their area of service
• Community Organisation Grants Scheme - providing funding for electricity and other needs
• Foundation North - grants for things which will benefit communities
• Harcourts Foundation - funding for beneficial community projects
• The Funding Network - for not for profits who benefit the communities

Local businesses and organisations are also possible sources of funding. We look at options, plus tips on getting them on board with you and saying yes!

Getting Funding from Local Businesses

Many charities or not-for-profits often ask for funding support, be it financial or via donations from local businesses first. This is often seen as product donations for school pet days, raffle ticket items donations and funding for local sports teams. As local businesses are asked to support local causes on a regular basis, to be successful in your attempt, it's best to be well prepared by having:

• written details about and photos on what you would like funding for
• researched which local things they prefer to support
• information about how you will acknowledge their contribution
• a proposal to put forward to them
• arranged a time to visit in person to discuss the funding

For more advice on obtaining funding for your website, please visit the Charities Services website.